Second dog

[Louwants]

Now, Desta looks like a Cairn terrier!!! She sure is pretty, and you've done a wonderful job!!!

[glencorgi]

Great job Chris! She's come a long way in a short time! Desta's looking really good.

Debbie

[MyPemCharlie]

Thank you both. What the camera doesn't show is that the big red angry patches of skin on her back have completely disappeared, and she had 3 or 4 pretty nasty red bugs bites that have all healed except for one that should be healed in a few days. She's getting less itchy everyday.

Just for fun. Pics of Charlie telling Desta some big doggie secret which I was not a party to. ...and Charlie characteristically bunny hopping out of frame just when I clicked.

[MyPemCharlie]

Bad news from the vet today. I had Desta scheduled for heartworm testing, teeth cleaning, spay surgery and "general health checkup". I called to check on her at noon. They put the doctor on the phone and he told me that she tested strong positive for heartworm. They did not want to put her under anestesia to spay her because of the risk from the heartworm.

Anway I gave him the go-ahead to start her first heartworm treatment today. If she survives it, she will get a second treatment in a month, and then a third treatment or test in another month. The vet said that having a "strong positive" test plus her being such a small dog puts her at great risk of not surviving. Hopefully under my care with complete bed rest for 2-3 months, we can make her healthy.

The backyard breeder's son who showed her to me said his mom was home-treating for fleas and heartworm so I assumed she was giving her Ivermectin or something (but no records, dates or details were provided). Anyway I'm so happy I got her instead of just replying to the craigslist ad with an email suggesting the pure-breed rescue group. She could have ended up anywhere and gone untreated, or worse, died in that BYB woman's backyard in a few more months.

Anyway, please send healing thoughts this way for Desta's recovery. Also, I've never had an unspayed female dog before, and she will certainly have a heat cycle before the heartworm treatment is finished. Any tips on how to deal with the "mess" of a heat cycle would be appreciated. Do I need some type of diapers, or clean her everyday, or what?

[LaRogue]

I'm so sorry to hear that Desta is heartworm positive. I'm sending lots of good thoughts to you.

[henderson]

I'm sorry to hear about Desta's heartworm-positive status. Think positively: she WILL recover under your good care! Sending lots of good, healing thoughts. She is such a cute little thing!

Regarding her heat, I have no experience with dogs, but know someone who makes very nice little plastic-lined panties that you can insert a pad into. Velcro waist closure, hole for the tail, etc.! Let me know if you want the info.

When I got my first cat, Mo, 20 years ago, she was 6 months old and went into heat before I could get her spayed (actually like the day after I got her home!). There was no mess or visible blood. She was probably around the same size as Desta, so I imagine it would be the same(?).

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

Bad news from the vet today. I had Desta scheduled for heartworm testing, teeth cleaning, spay surgery and "general health checkup". I called to check on her at noon. They put the doctor on the phone and he told me that she tested strong positive for heartworm. They did not want to put her under anestesia to spay her because of the risk from the heartworm.

Anway I gave him the go-ahead to start her first heartworm treatment today. If she survives it, she will get a second treatment in a month, and then a third treatment or test in another month. The vet said that having a "strong positive" test plus her being such a small dog puts her at great risk of not surviving. Hopefully under my care with complete bed rest for 2-3 months, we can make her healthy.

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sending my best wishes for her recovery.

Also, I've never had an unspayed female dog before, and she will certainly have a heat cycle before the heartworm treatment is finished. Any tips on how to deal with the "mess" of a heat cycle would be appreciated. Do I need some type of diapers, or clean her everyday, or what?

The time between cycles varies and can go from 4-8 mos. Depending on the breed. (Whippets can be 18 mos.) Do you know when she was last in season? If so then figure about 6 mos. from that time. That's the average. And keeping fingers crossed she doesn't go into heat before the treatment is done.

With most of my dogs there is very little mess. Sometimes a small spot of blood on their bedding. Most of my girls keep themselves very clean. I've not had to use panties for them. They do make panites for female dogs, you can use a human panty liner in them. Or you can even use a toddler boys jockey shorts, on backwards of course and tail through the fly.

You won't need diapers, they don't bleed as much as just spot a bit. And you shouldn't have to clean her everyday. Maybe a bath when she's done.

Oh, she will want to pee more often just before and when she's in season.

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by henderson

Regarding her heat, I have no experience with dogs, but know someone who makes very nice little plastic-lined panties that you can insert a pad into. Velcro waist closure, hole for the tail, etc.! Let me know if you want the info.

IMO, plastic lined would be hot and uncomfortable. Smaller dogs do not bleed enough to make a big mess. It's spotting not a ton of blood.

When I got my first cat, Mo, 20 years ago, she was 6 months old and went into heat before I could get her spayed (actually like the day after I got her home!). There was no mess or visible blood. She was probably around the same size as Desta, so I imagine it would be the same(?).

Cats don't have a discharge. Dogs do. Cats however, are more annoying because they yowl when in season. Dogs are much quieter and less annoying. The biggest inconvience with dogs is keeping a female away from intact males. You might not want to go for walks, keep an eye on them outside, etc.

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Peggy

I'm so sorry to hear this. I'm sending my best wishes for her recovery.



The time between cycles varies and can go from 4-8 mos. Depending on the breed. (Whippets can be 18 mos.) Do you know when she was last in season? If so then figure about 6 mos. from that time. That's the average. And keeping fingers crossed she doesn't go into heat before the treatment is done.

With most of my dogs there is very little mess. Sometimes a small spot of blood on their bedding. Most of my girls keep themselves very clean. I've not had to use panties for them. They do make panites for female dogs, you can use a human panty liner in them. Or you can even use a toddler boys jockey shorts, on backwards of course and tail through the fly.

You won't need diapers, they don't bleed as much as just spot a bit. And you shouldn't have to clean her everyday. Maybe a bath when she's done.

Oh, she will want to pee more often just before and when she's in season.

Peggy

The teenage son told me she had the last litter mid-April on his birthday. That was about the only question I got an answer to without a lot of hesitation. I only spoke with the previous owner/breeder on the phone. She was hurrying to work and preferred that I come up to see the dog "as soon as possible". The teenagers would be home, and if I didn't want the dog, she wanted to call the next person of 7 who replied to her ad. She wanted the dog gone the same day.

So puppies in April would be heat cycles in February and August (if she is at 6 months like the woman told me on the phone). She will still be on heartworm treatment when she cycles. Hopefully she will just spot and I can just put easy-to-wash towels in her crate instead of her pillow and put some towels on the office floor for her to lie on while I work. Hope it's that easy. If not, I think those toddler pants are only two or three dollars and this should be her final heat cycle. I'll be rescheduling her spay as soon as the vet ok's it...surely that will be well before year-end.

Until then, she will be on such limited exercise that there won't be neighborhood male-dog access while she's in heat. The vet said no walks and only leash walking in the backyard for potty breaks. That's going to be the toughest part for her. She loves, loves, loves to run and play in the yard and go on our walks.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes.

[henderson]

Originally Posted by Peggy

IMO, plastic lined would be hot and uncomfortable. Smaller dogs do not bleed enough to make a big mess. It's spotting not a ton of blood.

She actually makes the panties for dogs with urinary incontinence (only the crotch is plastic lined). Spay incontinence is common in retired racing greyhounds.

Originally Posted by Peggy

Cats don't have a discharge. Dogs do.
Peggy

No wonder I didn't see any blood!

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

The teenage son told me she had the last litter mid-April on his birthday. That was about the only question I got an answer to without a lot of hesitation. I only spoke with the previous owner/breeder on the phone. She was hurrying to work and preferred that I come up to see the dog "as soon as possible". The teenagers would be home, and if I didn't want the dog, she wanted to call the next person of 7 who replied to her ad. She wanted the dog gone the same day.

So puppies in April would be heat cycles in February and August (if she is at 6 months like the woman told me on the phone). She will still be on heartworm treatment when she cycles.

Yup, she would have been in season in Feb to have puppies in April.

How awful for her for them to want her to be gone that day. Sheesh!

Hopefully she will just spot and I can just put easy-to-wash towels in her crate instead of her pillow and put some towels on the office floor for her to lie on while I work. Hope it's that easy.

It should be. That's the way my corgis are.

If not, I think those toddler pants are only two or three dollars and this should be her final heat cycle. I'll be rescheduling her spay as soon as the vet ok's it...surely that will be well before year-end.

Until then, she will be on such limited exercise that there won't be neighborhood male-dog access while she's in heat. The vet said no walks and only leash walking in the backyard for potty breaks. That's going to be the toughest part for her. She loves, loves, loves to run and play in the yard and go on our walks.

Yup, I knew that would be the case for her but wanted to point that out for others. I don't think the heat cycle will be a big problem for you. Right now that should be the least of her worries.

And yes, I can imagine keeping her calm/inactive will be a bigger problem. Stock up on chewies!

Peggy

[Peggy]

p.s. You did a great job with her grooming!

(And Morgan didn't win anything in MT, he still needs that last major.)

Peggy

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by henderson

She actually makes the panties for dogs with urinary incontinence (only the crotch is plastic lined). Spay incontinence is common in retired racing greyhounds.

Oh ok. Well, having an older dog who has some incontience problems, I don't use plastic lined. I use the incontinence pads in his belly bands. They are plasctic lined so there is no need for double plastic. And with it being summer, just thinking that it would be too warm for plastic lined esp. for a female in season.

No wonder I didn't see any blood!

Yup, there wasn't any to see. Personally I'd rather deal with a dog in season and the spotting than a yowling cat. (And yes, I've had both in my home. The cats get spayed!)

Peggy

[MyPemCharlie]

Originally Posted by Peggy

How awful for her for them to want her to be gone that day. Sheesh!


Peggy

I spent the first 3 days being really angry with almost everything the woman said on the phone, but telling myself to get happy again and focus on Desta's future, not her past. The heartworm diagnosis yesterday made me angry all over again.

This is how our phone call went:

BYB: You answered my ad about the Cairn Terrier.

Me: Yes I did. Thank you for calling. Just a couple questions. Is she spayed?

BYB: No, she isn't and we're not willing to consider that. If you don't want her, I'll call the next person. Seven people replied to my ad in 30 minutes. Do you have any idea why that many people would want a 3 year old dog?

Me: Well a lot of people want a small AKC dog, and you see a lot of large mixed breeds on craigslist. (I did not tell her that up to half the people who replied were probably BYB's like her, who would take her dog and keep using her as a "profit-center" every heat cycle.)

BYB: Well let me tell you why I'm giving her away. She's had four litters and I don't want any more litters from her. I want to get a champion dog to keep breeding, and I told my daughter that I won't own more than three dogs. As for the rehoming fee, a friend told me not to give her away but to charge a fee to make sure she gets a good home. Otherwise I'd just give her away.

Me: Oh I see. The rehoming fee is no problem. (I told her about Charlie, and that I work from home, feed premium Canidae and take the dog out for a long work everday and fenced yard playtime in the evening. She didn't seem too concerned, but did say "Oh wow you're feeding expensive food!". She just wanted the dog gone and did not ask me any questions.)
Me: What time is convenient to come look at her?

BYB: I have to go to work in ten minutes, and I'll be at work for about 3 hours, but my teenagers will be home.

Me: Would you prefer I come after you get off work so you can meet me?

BYB: No. I'd rather you come as soon as possible. If you don't want her, I want to call the next person on the list. I'd like her gone by this evening.

Me: I'm a bit sweaty from our morning walk. I'll jump in the shower and be there in an hour if you give me directions.

By the time I hung up, I knew I was taking the dog unless she was temperamently vicious. I figured if she and Charlie didn't get along, I would take care of her spay and any other medical and sign her over the Cairn Rescue myself. Then I get there, see a beautiful meticulous home (much nicer than my own), well-dressed articulate kids...and poor Desta living in an unpainted slapped-together plywood dog run out in the back, matted, itching and scratching. It seemed so horribly out of place.

So that's the big vent session. I again just need to focus on our bright future and quit getting angry about Desta's past.

[Peggy]

Originally Posted by MyPemCharlie

I spent the first 3 days being really angry with almost everything the woman said on the phone, but telling myself to get happy again and focus on Desta's future, not her past. The heartworm diagnosis yesterday made me angry all over again.

I can understand that.

This is how our phone call went:

BYB: You answered my ad about the Cairn Terrier.

Me: Yes I did. Thank you for calling. Just a couple questions. Is she spayed?

BYB: No, she isn't and we're not willing to consider that. If you don't want her, I'll call the next person. Seven people replied to my ad in 30 minutes. Do you have any idea why that many people would want a 3 year old dog?

Boy is she clueless. Like you say some might have wanted to breed and some would just like a pet and don't want a puppy. Neither are hard to understand, and quite common.

Me: Well a lot of people want a small AKC dog, and you see a lot of large mixed breeds on craigslist. (I did not tell her that up to half the people who replied were probably BYB's like her, who would take her dog and keep using her as a "profit-center" every heat cycle.)

BYB: Well let me tell you why I'm giving her away. She's had four litters and I don't want any more litters from her. I want to get a champion dog to keep breeding, and I told my daughter that I won't own more than three dogs. As for the rehoming fee, a friend told me not to give her away but to charge a fee to make sure she gets a good home. Otherwise I'd just give her away.

Well, hopefully anyone with a champion dog will ask her questions and NOT sell her a dog. Most reputable breeders show their dogs, ask questions and do not want their dogs being bred just to be bred.

Me: Oh I see. The rehoming fee is no problem. (I told her about Charlie, and that I work from home, feed premium Canidae and take the dog out for a long work everday and fenced yard playtime in the evening. She didn't seem too concerned, but did say "Oh wow you're feeding expensive food!". She just wanted the dog gone and did not ask me any questions.)

Just wants to make money on the puppies. Proper food isn't a concern. Doesn't put more money into the dog than she has to. Yeah, I'm real impressed with her. (NOT!)

Me: What time is convenient to come look at her?

BYB: I have to go to work in ten minutes, and I'll be at work for about 3 hours, but my teenagers will be home.

Me: Would you prefer I come after you get off work so you can meet me?

BYB: No. I'd rather you come as soon as possible. If you don't want her, I want to call the next person on the list. I'd like her gone by this evening.

Sheesh, I'd not be letting my teenage boys place a dog for me. I'd want to meet the new owner myself.

Me: I'm a bit sweaty from our morning walk. I'll jump in the shower and be there in an hour if you give me directions.

By the time I hung up, I knew I was taking the dog unless she was temperamently vicious. I figured if she and Charlie didn't get along, I would take care of her spay and any other medical and sign her over the Cairn Rescue myself. Then I get there, see a beautiful meticulous home (much nicer than my own), well-dressed articulate kids...and poor Desta living in an unpainted slapped-together plywood dog run out in the back, matted, itching and scratching. It seemed so horribly out of place.

I'm glad you took her and I can see that even if you couldn't keep her, taking her and putting her in rescue would be much better for her. (Any reputable rescue would have spayed her before placing too.)

So that's the big vent session. I again just need to focus on our bright future and quit getting angry about Desta's past.

I agree. Get her healthy, spayed and she will have a great home. She does get along with Charlie so that's a big plus! I'm sure she's going to be one very happy dog!

Peggy